Ruben Amorim ‘has already told Man Utd the first three players he wants to sign’ once Sporting move is confirmed
Ruben Amorim has reportedly informed Manchester United of his preferred transfer targets as the club negotiates a deal to appoint him as Erik ten Hag’s successor.
Ten Hag was dismissed on Monday following a loss to West Ham that left United in 14th place in the Premier League after nine matches. Ruud van Nistelrooy has stepped in as interim manager, but Sporting CP’s Amorim quickly emerged as the favorite for the permanent role and entered discussions with United.
United is moving swiftly to finalize a deal with the 39-year-old, who has previously attracted interest from Liverpool and West Ham. Due to a clause in his contract extension signed in June 2026, United can acquire Amorim for just €10 million (£8.3 million) in compensation, a significant reduction from his €30 million release clause.
Amorim is expected to bring in his own coaching staff to implement his philosophy, but TEAMtalk reports he also intends to sign three Sporting players.
While United recently signed two players in the position, Amorim considers 23-year-old center-back Goncalo Inacio, a Liverpool target with a £51 million release clause, a top priority.
Additionally, he views winger Marcus Edwards, a former Spurs youth player now in Portugal, as a solution to United’s struggles with creativity on the wings.
Lastly, Amorim has a close rapport with Pedro Goncalves, another winger who previously had a brief stint at Wolves. Known for his consistent goal-scoring, Goncalves has recorded five goals and five assists this season. Sporting, however, would demand a substantial fee and are reluctant to sell him mid-season.
Sporting has acknowledged United’s interest in Amorim, though reports indicate he is expected to oversee Sporting’s next match and might remain with the club until November due to a notice period that could last weeks rather than days, as reported by the *Daily Mail*.
Amorim has already achieved two Portuguese league titles and three Taca da Ligas, drawing comparisons to Jose Mourinho for his early success.
